Knitting machine attachment



March 21, 1950 F. e. WE-ISBECKER KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed March 22, 1948 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 21, 195% UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE KNITTHNG MACHINE AllT-ACIMENT' Frank George-Weisbecker, Glenside, Pa.

Application March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,27?

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a, devicefor compensating wear. in a. cylindrical, journal bearing.

More particularly, this inventionpertains to an,

row and are driven from a, common source, of.

power., The framework ofthe machine consistsof several longitudinal beamswhich connect a plu-.--

raiity of longitudinally spaced vertical frames. Normally one pair of knitting sections is included in the space between adjacent frames.

Each knitting section has a bank of needles secured to, a needle bar which is mounted for both vertical and horizontal movement so that the necessary knitting motion may be imparted thereto. The vertical component of such motion isdirectly imparted by liftinglevers which are. attached to an oscillating longitudinal shaft,

One such shaft is termed a needle bar shaft. usually provided for eachpair of knitting sections between adacent vertical frames and is,

supported for oscillating movement in end bearings mountedon the frames. Each such bearing usually supports the adjacent ends of two needle. bar shafts which serve adjacent pairs of knitting, Timed oscillation of each needle bar shaft is accomplished by the motion of a needle sections.

bar lever having one end thereof secured to the shaft and the other end riding on a suitably shaped cam. The cam is mounted on a longitudinal cam shaft common to all the knitting sec-.

tions.

Since the speed, or frequency, of the needle bar shafts is relatively low, usually not more than seventy cycles per minute, they normally are mounted in cylindrical journal bearings, i. e. plain friction bearings. These bearings are designed for pressure lubrication by oil, but in time become worn out through natural wear or lack of proper lubrication. Excessive wear of these bearings,

in which the needle bar shaft is journaled, has

an adverse effect upon the knittingoperation.

Such wear permits radial displacement, in addition to the normal oscillating motion, of the needle bar shaft during its operating cycle. This composite motion of the shaft renders the movement of the lifting levers no longer purely arouate or pivotal, but causes a variation therefrom to anextent which depends upon the amount of wear deviate from their proper paths.

2 of thebearings. Since the vertical component of the needle bar knitting'motion is imparted directly by the lifting levers, wear of the needle bar shaft bearings causes the knitting needles to Such .deviation results in imperfections in the knitted fabric.

Needle bar shaft bearings usually are detachably secured to the vertical machine framesto Replacement Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an attachment for the needle bar shaft of a straight knitting machine that will eliminate the adverse effects of bearing wear.

It is another object of this invention to provide an attachment for a full-fashioned knitting machine that renders replacement of the needle bar shaft bearings unnecessary, until the bearings have worn far beyond their normal life.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an attachment of the character described that is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing an attachment embodying this invention secured in place on one end of a needle bar shaft of a straight full-fashioned knitting machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view, partially in section, of the attachment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view of the attachment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front View, corresponding to Figure 2, showing a slightly modified form of attachment adapted for use on the other end of a needle bar shaft.

Referring now tothe drawings, there is shown a portion of a vertical frame ,l 8 of a straight fullfashioned knitting machine. On one side of the frame If! adjacent the top edge I! is a flat bed, or seat, 22, adapted to receive the correspondingly flat attaching portion, or projection, i3 of a cylindrical journal bearing M.

lateral rib [5 adjacent the top edge H. The

bearing ill normally is secured to the frame H by bolts 86 (Figure 4) which extend freely through suitable bolt holes I"! in the attachingv The other side of the frame if! is provided with a reinforcing The adjacent ends ofv two needle bar shafts l9 and 2130f equal diam-- eterare journaled. in each end of the bearingrM.

Each shaft serves a pair of knitting sections (not shown) disposed on ither side of the frame 10. The other ends (not shown) of the shafts l9 and 20 are journaled in similar bearings mounted on the next adjacent vertical frames. Lubricant is supplied to the bearing it through a conventional pressure lubricating nipple 2 I. The structure thus far described is conventional and requires no further explanation.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the attachment which is the subject of this invention comprises a saddle 22 having an arcuate or semicircular bearing surface 23. The bearing surface 23 has the same radius of curvature as the shafts l9 and 20 and has an arcuate length not greater than half that of the shafts. Since the surface 23 serves as a bearing for the shaft H), as explained hereinafter, it is desirable that the saddle 22 be made of suitable bearing material or that the surface be provided by a suitable bearing insert. I'he saddle 22 is supported in position over the shaft [9, with the curved surface 23 bearing thereon, by parallel threaded members or bolts 24 which extend freely through parallel holes in the saddle, one on each side of the bearing surface 23. The saddle is secured to the bolts 24 by upper and lower nuts 25 which may be adjusted to move the saddle axially of the bolts 2 as readil will be understood.

The lower ends of the bolts 24 ar threaded into a plate-like supporting or attaching momber 26 which is provided with transverse bolt holes 21. The spacing of the holes 2'! is the same as that of the bolt holes 1'! in the attaching portion of be hearing and the threaded holes [8 in the frame. Bosses 28 are provided on the inner side of the bolt holes 2?, for a purpose later described.

The attachment, as a whole, is securedinproper position relative to the shaft l9 by bolts 29 which pass through the bolt holes il in the attaching portion it of the bearing and are threaded into the holes iii in the frame H3. Since the original bolts 2' 6 which secure the bearing G l to the frame (Figure l) are not apt to be long enough for this purpose, it usually is necessary to substitute the longer bolts 23. The bosses 28 serve to space the saddle 22 from the bearing i i to prevent interference therebetween.

When the bearing it becomes worn sufficiently to permit radial play of th shaft 59, the nuts .justed to force the saddle transversely are shaft to eliminate such play. Thus, e serves as the upper half of a split and the hearing it as the lower half. Hence, the saddle in cooperation with the bearing serves to constrain th shaft is to purely rotary or oscillating motion. As the bearing and/or the saddle wears further, readjustment of the nuts will eliminate the resulting play of the shaft. Because of the close spacing between the saddle 22 and the bearing (4, downward adjustment of the saddle produces no undue bending moment in the shaft.

It is desirable that the saddle be provided with suitable means, such as a pressure lubricating nipple or a grease cup 30, as shown, to introduce lubricant to the bearing surface 23 to lessen its friction against the shaft.

The attachment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 obviously may be used on either side of the frame [0, or two attachments on both sides simultaneously. Figure 4, however, shows a slightly modified form of attachment which is possible of use on the right hand side of the frame It). In

this form, the attaching member 26a is slightly different from that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 to accommodate the rib IS. The bosses 28 of Figures 1, 2 and 3, are eliminated and instead the member 26a is formed with a seat 3| for the rib. Bolts 29a which are threaded into the holes H3 in the frame on the opposite side from the bolts 16, secure the member 26a to the frame. Lock nuts 32, threaded on the bolts 29a, serve to maintain the member 26a seated against the rib l5. Tilting of the member 26a on the bolts 29a is prevented by a bolt 33 which is threaded through the member 26a and engages the side of the frame It at a point on that side of the bolts 29a remote from the rib. The nuts 32 and the bolt 33 are so adjusted that the bearing surface 23 of the saddle 22 seats squarely on the shaft 20.

It is evident that various structural changes which still embody the principle of the invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention covers all modifications that come within the spirit and. scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a shaft, a cylindrical journal bearing supporting said shaft, a frame supporting said bearing, a saddle closely adjacent said bearing and engaging one side of said shaft around substantially one-half of the circumference thereof, an intermediate member bolted to said frame adjacent the opposite side of said shaft, and tension bolts adjustabiy securing both ends of said saddle to said intermediate member for movement transversely of said shaft, whereby said saddle may be adjusted to eliminate play of said shaft resulting from wear of said bearing.

2. In a straight knitting machine, a vertical frame, a cylindrical journal bearing secured to the upper end of said frame, a horizontal shaft mounted in said bearing, and means to compensate for wear of said bearing by said shaft comprising: a member disposed against said shaft and axially displaced thereon relative to said journal bearing, sai member having an arcuate concave surface conforming to not more than substantially one-half of the circumference of said shaft, said surface being adapted to constitute a bearing for said shaft, and means including tension bolts disposed on opposite sides of said shaft for adjustably securing said member to said frame for movement transversely of said shaft, whereby said member may be adjusted to cause said surface to bear against said shaft and thereby eliminate radial play thereof resulting from wear of said journal bearing.

3. For use in a straight knitting machine having a vertical frame provided with a cylindrical journal bearing secured thereto adjacent the upper edge thereof and a horizontal shaft journalled in said bearing, a wear compensating attachment for the bearing comprising: a plate-like member having transverse bolt holes therethrough and two spaced threaded bolt-receiving sockets in one edge thereof, said member being adapted to be bolted to the side of the vertical frame of the knitting machine with said edge spaced below the shaft and axially therealong relative to the cylindrical journal bearing; a saddle having an arcuate concave surface of substantially the same radius of curvature as the shaft and parallel bolt holes on each side of said surface, said saddle being adapted to be positioned over the shaft with said surface in bearing contact therewith; bolts extending through said parallel bolt holes and threaded into said bolt-receiving sockets; and means adjustably securing said member on said bolts, whereby said saddle may be caused to bear against the shaft to compensate for wear of the bearing.

4. In a Straight full-fashioned knitting machine having at least two spaced vertical frames, a plain bearing bolted to the same side of each frame and disposed above the top edge thereof, and a needle bar shaft bridging the frames and journalled in the bearings, the combination of adjustable means to constrain the shaft to purely oscillatory movement upon wear of the bearings comprising: a saddle disposed over each end of the shaft closely adjacent the corresponding bearing, said saddle having an arcuate shaft bearing surface and vertical parallel bolt holes on each side of said surface; a plate-like member, associated with each saddle, having at least two horizontally aligne transverse bolt holes therethrough and two spaced threaded bolt-receiving sockets in the upper edge thereof, said member being secured to the side of the frame by at cachin bolts extending through said transverse bolt holes, and threaded into the bearing bolt holes in the frame; bolts extending through said vertical parallel bolt holes in said saddle and threaded into said bolt-receiving threaded sockets in said plate-like member; and adjusting nuts on said last mentioned bolts for forcing said saddle into engagement with the shaft.

5. The structure defined by claim 4, one of the plate-like members being bolted directly against the attaching portion of the corresponding bearing, said one member having bosses on the inner side thereof engaging said portion to space the saddle from the bearing axially along the shaft.

6. The structure defined by claim 4, in which the same side of each frame has a horizontal stiffening rib adjacent the top edge, one of said plate-like members being bolted to the rib side of a frame, said one member having a horizontal seat for the rib above the said transverse bolt holes, a bolt threaded through said member below the said bolt holes and into engagement with the side of the frame, and a nut on the outer end of each of the said attaching bolts, adjustment of said nuts and said bolt being effective to adjustably tilt said member on said rib to seat the saddle secured on said member squarely on the shaft.

FRANK GEORGE WEISBECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 415,163 ODwyer Nov. 12, 1889 822,183 Chamberlain May 29, 1906' 1,167,375 Brock Jan. 11, 1916 

